Find out how popular the last name Ellerbee is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Ellerbee.

Ellerbee, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Ellerbee surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ellerbee in America

Ellerbee is the 18286th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ellerbee surname appeared 1,518 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Ellerbee.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ellerbee to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Ellerbee

The surname Ellerbee has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "aler" and "byht," which together mean "alder-tree bend" or "alder-tree stream." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near an alder tree located on a bend in a river or stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Alrebec." This entry refers to a location in Nottinghamshire, indicating that the name was likely associated with a particular place before becoming a hereditary surname.

In the 13th century, variations of the name emerged, such as "Alrebye" and "Alreby." These spellings reflect the influence of regional dialects and the evolving nature of the English language during that period.

Several notable individuals have borne the Ellerbee surname throughout history. One of the earliest was Sir John Ellerbee, a prominent English landowner and knight who lived in the 14th century. Another was Richard Ellerbee, a merchant and member of the Guild of Weavers in London, who was born around 1520.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name was associated with various locations in England, including Ellerbee in Northamptonshire, Ellerbee Hill in Yorkshire, and Ellerbee Priory in Durham. These place names suggest that the Ellerbee family may have had connections to different parts of the country.

In the 18th century, William Ellerbee (1709-1786) gained recognition as a successful merchant and philanthropist in Liverpool. He was instrumental in establishing several charitable institutions in the city.

Another notable figure was Sir Henry Ellerbee (1791-1868), a British army officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Member of Parliament.

Linda Ellerbee (born 1944) is a contemporary American journalist and television producer who has worked for various networks, including NBC and ABC. She is best known for her work on programs focused on news and issues affecting children and families.

The surname Ellerbee has a rich history rooted in the English countryside, with connections to various regions and notable individuals throughout the centuries. Its origins as a place name and its evolution into a hereditary surname reflect the fascinating linguistic and cultural developments that have shaped English surnames over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ellerbee

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Ellerbee.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Ellerbee was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Ellerbee has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Ellerbee was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ellerbee, please contact us.

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